Our History, Our Community

Upcoming Events

The History of the Jefferson County Courthouse

“We are not makers of history, we are made of history.” – Dr. Martin Luther King

Jefferson County, West Virginia is blessed with thousands of historic resources, over 60 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a National Historical Park and some of the oldest structures in the great state of West Virginia. To this day, some of the earliest beginnings of American history can still be seen as vestigial reminders of our shared past. As time moves on, and the inevitable development of our cultural resources occurs, Jefferson County needs a home grown capacity to preserve these important pieces of our history.

The Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission (JCHLC) voted in December 2016 to establish an endowment fund at the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation (EWVCF). JCHLC created the fund and has embarked on a capital campaign to better assist residents and programs benefiting historic preservation in Jefferson County. The landmarks commission set a capital campaign goal of $100,000.

With a limited budget, generated through revenues from Jefferson County’s hotel and motel tax, JCHLC has an annual operating budget of less than $20,000 a year. Currently, the Landmarks Commission owns four historic properties in the County which require maintenance and upkeep. This, combined with educational and interpretive materials and programs, leaves little for the organization to support other historic preservation projects in the county. Once the goal is reached, JCHLC will develop a grant application process which will allow for financial support for historic preservation projects.